''Schizolaena masoalensis'' is a plant in the family

Sarcolaenaceae The Sarcolaenaceae are a family of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar. The family includes 79 species of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs in ten genera. Recent DNA studies indicate that the Sarcolaenaceae are a sibling taxon to the family ...

. It is endemic to Madagascar. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

refers to the Masoala peninsula where the species is found.

Description

''Schizolaena masoalensis'' grows as a

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

or tree. Its papery leaves are elliptic to ovate in shape and are coloured grayish green above, tinted orangish below. They measure up to long. The inflorescences bear many flowers, each with three

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

and five petals. Fruits are unknown.

Distribution and habitat

''Schizolaena masoalensis'' is known only from the northeastern regions of Sava and Analanjirofo, on the Masoala peninsula. Its habitat is humid forest from sea-level to altitude. The species is known only from the original specimens, collected in the 1940s. Since then, the location of that collection has become part of Masoala National Park, but more recent specimens have not been found.

References

masoalensis Endemic flora of Madagascar Plants described in 1999 {{Sarcolaenaceae-stub